Does Gabrielli not like the press in Bahia?
From all indications, yes; recently, after two attempts, his press office told Bahia 247 that "he will not talk about Petrobras. He talks about any subject, except Petrobras"; yesterday, however, he decided to speak about the successive negative news about the oil company to Estadão, in São Paulo, at the PT's 10th anniversary celebration; it's worth remembering that if he is indeed a candidate for governor of Bahia, he already needs to start thinking about talking to local journalists; or will the campaign be conducted in São Paulo?
Romulo Faro - Bahia 247
From all indications, yes. In a period of just over two months, the Bahia 247 He questioned the former president of Petrobras at least twice, and he vehemently refuses to speak about the criticism he has been receiving for his time leading the state-owned company and about the difficult situation he is going through.
And it wasn't just 247 that refused. Several local media outlets have already invested in the matter, and the former all-powerful figure remains silent. He says that "Petrobras speaks for Petrobras." In this digital newspaper's last attemptGabrielli's advisor, who is now the Secretary of Planning for Bahia, stated clearly, "He said he will answer questions about anything that isn't Petrobras. He'll talk about anything else."
In conclusion, one of two things is true: either Gabrielli doesn't like the press in Bahia, or he thinks that local media outlets lack the credibility to interview the former president of one of the world's largest companies.
Finally, in São Paulo, at the 10th anniversary celebration of the PT (Workers' Party) in power in Brazil, Gabrielli spoke with the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo and, in a much more humble and friendly manner, decided to talk about Petrobras, a company that, according to the opposition, he left "bankrupt." It's worth remembering that if he does run for governor of Bahia in 2014, he will likely start thinking about speaking with local journalists. Or will the campaign be conducted in São Paulo? Below is an explanation of the state-owned company's current difficulties.
Criticism of Petrobras is more 'hype' than reality, says Gabrielli.
São Paulo - Former Petrobras president and current Secretary of Planning for Bahia, José Sergio Gabrielli, stated that the state-owned oil company is facing a short-term problem and that the criticisms leveled at the company's management "are much more froth than reality." According to Gabrielli, the claim that Petrobras is undercapitalized "is a false controversy," since the company's cash flow problems are largely due to investments made to expand refining capacity. "Obviously, Petrobras is experiencing a short-term problem because it invests heavily," said the former president, upon arriving at an event organized by the Workers' Party (PT) in São Paulo to celebrate the party's 10 years in the Presidency of the Republic.
Gabrielli defended Petrobras' construction of new refineries to address what he considers one of the biggest bottlenecks in the country's fuel sector: meeting the 40% growth in demand for gasoline, diesel, and oils over the last three years. He countered criticism from the financial market regarding the lower profit margins on refining investments compared to oil production. "The decision is correct, even if the financial market occasionally finds a problem, because, evidently, what generates the most profit is oil. Petrobras is an oil company, but it also produces refined products, and for that, it needs refineries," he stated.
Reiterating the speech he gave when he was president of the company, a speech also followed by his successor, Graça Foster, Gabrielli defended the readjustment of gasoline and diesel prices, even with the government's opposing position, which is understood by the market as a way to control inflation. "The long-term pricing policy is stabilizing, and it's true that at certain times it creates problems with the company's cash flow," he said. "(Requesting the readjustments) is a process that everyone will have to try," he added. On the 30th, the 6,6% increase for gasoline and the 5,4% increase for diesel at the refineries came into effect, but the market considered the adjustment small given the price gap in Brazil compared to international prices.
Considered a potential PT candidate to succeed Bahia governor Jaques Wagner, Gabrielli avoided talking about politics and the 2014 elections. "It's still too early to talk about that."